Members of town leadership joined Lowell General Hospital and Pro Con, Inc. in the ceremonial groundbreaking for a new facility that will expand the hospital's suburban campus.
The addition of 14 Research Place to the hospital's suburban campus will bring a 30,000 s/f medical office building and a 347 car parking deck to accommodate medical and physician practice space. The building, to be placed between two existing facilities in use by the hospital at 10 and 20 Research Place, has tenants preparing to take occupancy in spring of 2012 when the facility is complete.
Construction began for the new facility and parking deck in late May under the direction of Pro Con which is also the architect for the expansion, following the conceptual design by Doonan Architects. The campus is being designed with many landscape and aesthetic considerations using the services of Kim Ahern with engineering services of Watermark Environmental. Funding has been provided by Enterprise Bank and Lowell Five.
"Today we are here to break ground on not only a new building for Lowell General Chelmsford, but in reality, a new campus," said Lowell General Hospital's president and chief executive officer, Normand Deschene. "This $10 million expansion will bring an extensive array of new quality, leading edge outpatient services to the Chelmsford community and beyond; improve access to medical care and physician practices; and unify our campus, turning Lowell General Chelmsford into the premiere outpatient facility in the Merrimack Valley."
Chelmsford town manager, Paul Cohen, expressed appreciation for the investment of the hospital in the town - expanding business and improving healthcare for residents. "The town has worked collaboratively both with the hospital and with its own representative groups, beginning with the joint meetings of the planning board, board of selectman and the conservation committee in December. The success of the project thus far demonstrates that the town of Chelmsford can keep up with the pace of business today."